Role Models in the Lower Elementary Classroom

          Our daily community meetings are continuing to be very productive.  Meetings are used to discuss classroom problems and solutions.  The solutions are the work of the students.  Students try out their solutions and report back to the community during a future meeting.  Students are encouraged to practice solving their own problems with the help of their peers.  Older students are crucial to the success of problem solving during community meeting. Maria Montessori knew when she observed children in the learning environment that mixed age groups were beneficial.  Younger students are able to interact with older students.  Oftentimes the interactions motivate and encourage a younger student to challenge his or herself in a way that may never have happened.  On the other hand,  the older students have a multitude of opportunities to serve as role models.  Role models are necessary in the Montessori learning environment.  Role models provide a physical example of how to function within the classroom limits. They are dependable, patient and content leaders.  Many times a student new to Montessori will be particularly responsive to the role models in the room.  Third year students are able to use all they have learned in the previous two years to practice leadership skills.  The sense of accomplishment, peacefulness and purpose acquired from being a class leader is often the start of a lifelong mission of service to others.  Maria Montessori knew that the solution for peace in this world starts with children.  The opportunity to serve others as a role model in a Montessori learning environment is the beginning of this pathway to peace. It is a daily joy to be in the classroom with your children.  We hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. "The greatest gifts we can give our children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence."  Maria Montessori